Sports training aid assembly

ABSTRACT

A sports training aid assembly which provides a visual aid demonstrating shooting angles relative to a goal. The assembly includes a shooting implement configured for propelling an object towards a goal. A pulley is coupled to the shooting implement. A line has a first end configured for being coupled to the goal and a second end also configured for being coupled to the goal. The line has a medial portion extending through the pulley.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to sports training devices and more particularlypertains to a new sports training device for providing a visual aiddemonstrating shooting angles relative to a goal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a shooting implement configured for propelling anobject towards a goal. A pulley is coupled to the shooting implement. Aline has a first end configured for being coupled to the goal and asecond end also configured for being coupled to the goal. The line has amedial portion extending through the pulley.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

The present device a sports training aid assembly, for providing avisual aid demonstrating shooting angles relative to a goal, thetraining aid assembly includes:

-   -   a shooting implement configured for supporting a pulley and        simulating the device used for propelling an object towards a        goal;    -   a pulley coupled to the shooting implement; and    -   a line having a first end configured for being coupled to the        goal, the line having a second end configured for being coupled        to the goal, the line having a medial portion extending through        the pulley.

The assembly further including a spool, the spool being configured forcoupling to the goal, the second end of the line being coupled to thespool.

The assembly further may include a spool hook coupled to and extendingfrom the spool.

The assembly further may include a line hook coupled to the first end ofthe line.

The assembly further may include a biasing member coupled to the spool,the biasing member urging the spool to rotate such that the line isretracted onto the spool whereby the spool maintains tension on the lineto hold the line in a straight position between the pulley and the firstend of the line and between the pulley and the spool.

The assembly further may include the shooting implement being a hockeystick having a handle extending from a blade.

The assembly wherein the hockey stick is modified such that the pulleyis operably coupled to the blade portion of the hockey stick.

The assembly further comprising:

an aperture extending through the blade;

-   -   a pin coupled to the blade and extending through and across the        aperture; and    -   the pin extending through the pulley.

The assembly further may include the pin being vertically oriented inthe aperture.

The assembly further may include the pulley being centrally positionedalong a length of the blade.

A sports training aid assembly may include;

-   -   a shooting implement configured for propelling an object towards        a goal, the shooting implement being a hockey stick having a        handle extending from a blade;    -   a pulley coupled to the shooting implement, the pulley being        coupled to the blade, the pulley being centrally positioned        along a length of the blade;    -   a line having a first end configured for being coupled to the        goal, the line having a second end configured for being coupled        to the goal, the line having a medial portion extending through        the pulley;    -   a spool, the spool being configured for coupling to the goal,        the second end of the line being coupled to the spool;    -   a spool hook coupled to and extending from the spool;    -   a line hook coupled to the first end of the line;    -   a biasing member coupled to the spool, the biasing member urging        the spool to rotate such that the line is retracted onto the        spool whereby the spool maintains tension on the line to hold        the line in a straight position between the pulley and the first        end of the line and between the pulley and the spool;    -   an aperture extending through the blade; and    -   a pin coupled to the blade and extending through and across the        aperture, the pin extending through the pulley, the pin being        vertically oriented in the aperture.

The assembly wherein the shooting implement is a lacrosse stick modifiedto operably couple a pulley to the lacrosse stick.

The assembly wherein the shooting implement is a ringette stick modifiedto operably couple a pulley to the ringette stick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a top view of a sports training aid assembly according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 throughthereof, a new sports training device embodying the principles andconcepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated bythe reference numeral will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the sports training aidassembly generally comprises a shooting implement 12 configured forpropelling an object towards a goal 17. The assembly 10 may be adaptedto apply to any sport in which an object is propelled to a goal. Inparticular, the shooting implement 12 contemplated here is a hockeystick 16 having a handle 18 extending from a blade 20 and the object 14would be a puck 22. A pulley 24 is coupled to the shooting implement 12.In hockey, the puck 22 is typically shot off of the blade 20 so thepulley 24 is coupled to the blade 20. The pulley 24 may be centrallypositioned along a length of the blade 20 to approximate the positionfrom which the puck 22 would be released towards the goal 17. Anaperture 50 extends through the blade 20. A pin 52 is coupled to theblade 20 and extends through and across the aperture 50. The pin 52extends through the pulley 24 coupling the pulley 24 to the blade 20.The pin 52 is vertically oriented in the aperture 50 to hold the pulley24 in a substantially horizontal orientation.

A line 26 has a first end 28 and a second end 32 each configured forbeing coupled to the goal 17. The line 26 has a medial portion 36extending between the first end 28 and the second end 32 and through thepulley 24. To best demonstrate a shooting angle between the blade 20 andthe goal 17, the first end 28 is coupled to a first side 30 of the goal17. A line hook 46 may be coupled to the first end 28 of the line 26.The second end 32 is coupled to a second side 34 of the goal 17 oppositethe first side 30. When the line 26 is in a taut position the line 26will provide a visual approximation of outermost paths 40 on which thepuck 22 may be shot from the blade 20 to produce a score. An area 38between the outermost paths 40 would also produce a scoring shot. Thus,by using the assembly 10 a player in a shooting position or a goalieattempting to prevent a scoring shot may better see how well they arepositioned to achieve their desired result.

A spool 42 may be configured for coupling to the goal 17 by a spool hook44 extending from the spool 26 or by another fastening device includingbut not limited to straps, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. Thesecond end 32 of the line 26 is coupled to the spool 42. A biasingmember 48 is coupled to the spool 26 urging the spool 26 to rotate suchthat the line 26 is retracted onto the spool 26. Thus, the spool 26maintains tension on the line 26 to hold the line in a straight positionbetween the pulley 24 and the first end 28 of the line 26 and betweenthe pulley 24 and the spool 26. The spool 42 may be positioned in ahousing 56 having an outlet opening 58 aligned with the spool hook 44 tomaintain a straight line from the pulley 24 to the second side 34 of thegoal 17.

In use, the line 26 provides a visual indication of the area 38 thatwill produce a scoring shot when the puck 22 is shot from a specificposition on a playing surface 60. A goalie or other player may use thevisual indication to practice positioning cutting down or eliminatingthe potential for a scoring shot from the specific position. Use of thespool 42 allows for quick repositioning of the pulley 24 demonstratingthe change in angle of attack. The visual demonstration providesguidance on repositioning to again cut down or eliminate the opportunityfor a scoring shot. Conversely, a player may use the hockey stick 16 tosee how positioning and repositioning will change the chances forscoring.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Shooting implement 12 is depicted in the drawings as the blade 20portion of a hockey stick 16. Shooting implement 12 could also be alacrosse stick or a ringette stick. In sports where there is no shootingimplement however there is a goal, such as in soccer, one could use anyobject to act as a shooting implement 12 to support pulley 24. Forexample in soccer one could use a blade 20 to support the pulley 24 orin fact one could use a hockey stick 18 as depicted. In this example theshooting implement 20 simulates the foot of a soccer player in order todemonstrate the various angles of the shooter relative the goal. In thismanner for any game where an object is being flung into a net or goalthe present device could be used.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure.

1. A sports training aid assembly, for providing a visual aiddemonstrating shooting angles relative to a goal, the training aidassembly comprising: a shooting implement configured for supporting apulley and simulating the device used for propelling an object towards agoal; a pulley coupled to the shooting implement; and a line having afirst end configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having asecond end configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having amedial portion extending through the pulley.
 2. The assembly of claim 1,further including a spool, the spool being configured for coupling tothe goal, the second end of the line being coupled to the spool.
 3. Theassembly of claim 2, further including a spool hook coupled to andextending from the spool.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, further includinga line hook coupled to the first end of the line.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 2, further including a biasing member coupled to the spool, thebiasing member urging the spool to rotate such that the line isretracted onto the spool whereby the spool maintains tension on the lineto hold the line in a straight position between the pulley and the firstend of the line and between the pulley and the spool.
 6. The assembly ofclaim 1, further including the shooting implement being a hockey stickhaving a handle extending from a blade.
 7. The assembly of claim 6,wherein the hockey stick is modified such that the pulley is operablycoupled to the blade portion of the hockey stick.
 8. The assembly ofclaim 7, further comprising: an aperture extending through the blade; apin coupled to the blade and extending through and across the aperture;and the pin extending through the pulley.
 9. The assembly of claim 8,further including the pin being vertically oriented in the aperture. 10.The assembly of claim 7, further including the pulley being centrallypositioned along a length of the blade.
 11. A sports training aidassembly comprising: a shooting implement configured for propelling anobject towards a goal, the shooting implement being a hockey stickhaving a handle extending from a blade; a pulley coupled to the shootingimplement, the pulley being coupled to the blade, the pulley beingcentrally positioned along a length of the blade; a line having a firstend configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having a secondend configured for being coupled to the goal, the line having a medialportion extending through the pulley; a spool, the spool beingconfigured for coupling to the goal, the second end of the line beingcoupled to the spool; a spool hook coupled to and extending from thespool; a line hook coupled to the first end of the line; a biasingmember coupled to the spool, the biasing member urging the spool torotate such that the line is retracted onto the spool whereby the spoolmaintains tension on the line to hold the line in a straight positionbetween the pulley and the first end of the line and between the pulleyand the spool; an aperture extending through the blade; and a pincoupled to the blade and extending through and across the aperture, thepin extending through the pulley, the pin being vertically oriented inthe aperture.
 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shootingimplement is a lacrosse stick modified to operably couple a pulley tothe lacrosse stick.
 13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shootingimplement is a ringette stick modified to operably couple a pulley tothe ringette stick.